Shipping Via USPS ? Good or bad

Most people I have talked to and traded with prefer not to use USPS at all rather FedEx or UPS. I don't know if its true but someone told me that if you use USPS its brings federal issues if seized but once again I don't know if that's correct or just a myth.

 

bad

 

Used Fedex for a while, switched to USPS for the past few trades.

Pros:
-Fast. Two day shipping anywhere in the continental US
-Affordable. 16 bucks and change for their "large box"
-Free, sturdy box.

Cons
-Small box. Even their largest box is pretty small. If you want to send a 750 you need to angle it a little, really minimizing how much you can stuff in there. However if 12oz and 22oz bottles are all you're sending, you can fit a good amount in.
-You have to deal with the USPS. Not sure how they are in your city but around me, I have to expect 10-20 minute wait no matter when I go. And the people at the register work so mind numbingly slow its unbearable. I usually drive an extra 10 minutes out of the way to use the USPS that has automated drop off for packages just so I don't have to deal with the slow clerks.

 

Going to say its a myth. I had a bottle break on me during a USPS shipment, they opened it, removed the broken bottle and sent what was left.

Besides, theres no way to prove WHO actually sent the box. Anyone can write your name and return address on a box. For that matter, they'd spend more money on a case against you than they'd get from the fine you'd face for it. Just not worth going after.

 

This was my reply

 

No way. UPS works well, never had a problem. Print out your label from their website, drop it off and they don't even ask you what's in the box.

 

UPS not bad

USPS shipping trough then with out a legit liscense= possible federal beef. Against the law vice company policy...

 

I prefer USPS, reason being is that I have to ship from Hawaii and it is WAYYY cheaper than FedEx or UPS. Yes, it limits how many beers you can send, but if you dont mind small(er) trades its great. If you pack it good, there should be no issue, you can even go super paranoid and put a "medium" box inside a "large" box.

 

UPS, FedEx: private companies. If they ask, tell 'em you're sending hot sauce or something. If it breaks and you get found out, they're not likely to actually do anything other than tell you not to do it again.

USPS: government agency. Send beer with them and it breaks/you get caught: you're in trouble.

 

Bottom line... Almost all USPS offices have long lines with slow lazy people working them...sorry if offending anyone...just calling it like it is! At FedEx or UPS you simply drop the box off, no wait, no bullshit hassle....or have it picked up. IMO, USPS is garbanzo...they drive around and deliver junk mail! Do yourself a favor...use FedEx...tracking is also very accurate....

 

The problem with USPS employees (clerks and handlers at least, not sure about carriers) now is that over the past few years they have been systematically forcing their long-time full-time employees into early retirement and replacing them with 20-hour per week part timers who don't care at all about their job there and end up leaving after a few months.

 

go with fedex. the last box i shipped had a 6 pack of cans and 5 bottles..one of the cans leaked and they flagged it. fedex repacked the box and delivered it on time

 

Considering how much beer you can fit in their large flat rate boxes, $16 is far from affordable imo. And those boxes are far from sturdy

 

Did I miss the massive news that it is now legal to send beer through USPS without being licensed? Elaborate troll thread, trying to get people in legal trouble? I'm...confused. Which isn't a rare thing, mind you. But still, confused.

 

There is some recent news about it, but still illegal as far as I know.

http://money.cnn.com/2013/08/02/news/economy/postal-service-beer/index.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/11/postal-service-alcohol-delivery-idea_n_3740349.html

 

ftfy

 

Not getting into the legality of shipping beer, just commenting on service at USPS. I sold a good many vacuum tubes (pretty fragile) on ebay and always shipped USPS, and never had a single broken tube or a missing shipment. This was either 1st Class or Priority Mail. The only service I've had trouble with via USPS is Parcel Post, which I refuse to use for anything. I print all shipping labels at home and drop the boxes off at a local post office warehouse type facility which doesn't have customer service beyond a buzzer to get someone to come take your package, so no issues with crowds. For packages over 2 or 3 pounds that I can't get into flat rate boxes, I usually ship Fedex Ground, which is cheaper than UPS.